"Easy to read about, tough to put into practice, Thase's strategies for feeling better are worth the time and effort."―Chicago Tribune"If you need help lifting the veil of gloom and apathy, this is the best concise guide to treating chronic depression I have seen."―James H. Kocsis, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Cornell Medical Center"Stop weeping into your Cheerios and do something to help yourself. If you've been chalking up your fatigue, irritation, pessimism and anti-social behavior to a mood swing, surprise - that mood swing you've had for 15 years may actually be dysthymia. More subtle than severe depression, Dysthymia is a mild version of the disorder that lasts for more than two years. The easy-to-read 'Blues' describes therapies, medications and alternative approaches that can help you feel better."―New York Daily News"Michael Thase is unique in that he has internationally renowned expertise both in medication treatment and in psychotherapy for depression. He writes clearly and colorfully. This book on chronic depression, a troubling affliction that is too often ignored, is a masterpiece. I couldn't put it down."―Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., Titus H. Harris Chair, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston"This book is a step forward. Dr. Thase is an expert in depression, with a wealth of clinical experience, scholarly knowledge, and a scientist's incisive judgment. His research encompasses both biological and psychotherapeutic treatments. The reader of Beating the Blues can trust what he or she learns. This book helps bridge the gap between knowledge and its practical application to heal." ―Alan J. Gelenberg, M.D., Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Founding Editor of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry Newsletter and Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Mild depressions are so insidious that sufferers often don't seek help. However persistent mild depression, which afflict up to 35 million Americans, can be readily and permanently cured. This book shows how chronic mild depression can be relieved by learning strategies that help us to recognize negative and distorted thinking patterns that lead to a downward spiral of pessimism. It reveals that a combination of medication and therapy has been shown to be the most effective treatment for mild depression, with an impressive 85 per cent of patients experiencing full relief. It discusses when you should seek help from a therapist and what kinds of therapy work best. It outlines the antidepressants that are helpful for both mild and severe depressions, detailing each drug's strength and weakness, and examines alternative therapies, including stress management (meditation, relaxation, massage, biofeedback), physical exercise, acupuncture, supplements, and other mind/body therapies. Finally, the book provides in-depth discussions of mild depression in children, adolescents, college students, and elderly parents, as well as those with chronic stress.